Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (Near East London), BCMM, Eastern Cape, South Africa
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1 Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment – Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (near East London), BCMM, Eastern Cape, South Africa - 30 November 2014 - Report to: Sello Mokhanya (Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority – EC PHRA) E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 043 745 0888; Postal Address: N/A Jaclyn Smith (Terreco Environmental) E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 043 721 1502; Postal Address: 57 Jarvis Road, Berea, East London, 5241 Prepared by: Karen van Ryneveld (ArchaeoMaps) E-mail: [email protected]; Tel: 084 871 1064; Postal Address: Postnet Suite 239, Private Bag X3, Beacon Bay, 5205 Phase 1 AIA – Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (near East London), BCMM, EC Terreco Environmental 2 Specialist Declaration of Interest I, Karen van Ryneveld (Company – ArchaeoMaps; Qualification – MSc Archaeology), declare that: o I am suitably qualified and accredited to act as independent specialist in this application; o I do not have any financial or personal interest in the application, ’proponent or any subsidiaries, aside from fair remuneration for specialist services rendered; and o That work conducted has been done in an objective manner – and that any circumstances that may have compromised objectivity have been reported on transparently. Signature – - 30 November 2014 - Phase 1 AIA – Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (near East London), BCMM, EC Terreco Environmental 3 Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment – Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (near East London), BCMM, Eastern Cape, South Africa Executive Summary Terms of Reference - Terreco have been appointed as independent EAP by Aurecon, on behalf of the project proponent, the BCMM, to prepare the BAR and EMPr reports for the proposed construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road development, to be situated at general development co-ordinate S32°59’05.5”; E27°39’02.1”, near East London, BCMM, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The development comprises the construction of an 80m bridge across the Buffalo River and an approximate 3km access road, linking the Needs Camp and Potsdam villages. Construction material for the development will be sourced from 1 borrow pit [NCP_BP01]. (For application purposes the borrow pit component of the development is reported on separately.) ArchaeoMaps was appointed by Terreco to conduct the Phase 1 AIA for the proposed construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road component of the development. The Phase 1 AIA comprises a specialist component to the project’s HIA, with findings and recommendations thereof to be included in the BAR and EMPr. The Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment - Project Area: Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road development, near East London, BCMM, Eastern Cape [1:50,000 Map Ref –3227DC]. Coverage & Gap Analysis: Pre-feasibility and field assessment. Field Methodology: One day field assessment; GPS co-ordinates – Garmin GPSmap 62s; Photographic documentation – Pentax K20D. Site significance assessment – SAHRA 2007 system. Summary: o No archaeological or cultural heritage developmental ‘Fatal Flaws’ identified; o Development will have a low positive impact on the contemporary (spiritual) cultural environment. Map Code Site Co-ordinates Recommendations Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road development, near East London, BCMM, Eastern Cape NCP-S1 Contemporary – Place of Worship S32°59’05.2”; E27°38’46.7” Temporary conservation (temporary signage at the time of construction; observation of religious / ceremonial requirements) NCP-S2 Stone Age – ESA & MSA (low density S32°59’19.7”; E27°39’34.6” Destruction occurrence) (site destruction without the developer having to apply for an EC PHRA Site Destruction Permit) Recommendations – With reference to archaeological and cultural heritage compliance, as per the requirements of the NHRA 1999, it is recommended that the proposed construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road development, near East London, Eastern Cape, proceeds as applied for, provided the developer complies with the above listed recommendations. The EC PHRA HIA Comment will state legal requirements for development to proceed, or reasons why, from a heritage perspective, development may not be further considered. Phase 1 AIA – Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (near East London), BCMM, EC Terreco Environmental 4 Contents 1 - Terms of Reference......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1.1) Development Location, Details and Impact........................................................................................... 6 2 - The Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment........................................................................................ 9 2.1.1) Archaeological Legislative Compliance................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2) Methodology & Gap Analysis................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3) Assessor Accreditation.............................................................................................................................10 Pre-feasibility Assessment................................................................................................................................................................11 2.2.1) Pre-feasibility Summary ............................................................................................................................11 2.2.2) The SAHRA 2009 MPD & SAHRIS.............................................................................................................11 2.2.3) SAHRA Provincial Heritage Site Database – Eastern Cape .................................................................. 13 2.2.4) General Discussion....................................................................................................................................16 Field Assessment..................................................................................................................................................................................18 2.3.1) Site NCP-S1: Contemporary – Place of Worship: °’”°’” ....................................23 2.3.2) Site NCP-S2: Stone Age – ESA and MSA: °’”°’” .................................................24 3 - Environmental Impact Assessment Rating................................................................................................25 4 - Cultural Landscapes and Cumulative Impact............................................................................................27 4.1.1) Cultural Landscape of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road Development.......... 28 5 - Recommendations........................................................................................................................................29 6 - Acronyms and Abbreviations......................................................................................................................30 7 - References......................................................................................................................................................31 Appendix A: Schematic Outline of the Pre-Colonial and Colonial Periods Appendix B: Introduction to the Archaeology of South Africa Appendix C: Extracts from the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) Phase 1 AIA – Proposed Construction of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road, (near East London), BCMM, EC Terreco Environmental 5 List of Maps: Map 1: General locality of the proposed Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road development, near East London, Eastern Cape..........7 Map 2: Close-up of the locality of the proposed Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road development, near East London, Eastern Cape ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................7 Map 3: 1,50,000 Map Ref – 3227DC - General locality of the proposed Needs Camp / Potsdam development, near East London, Eastern Cape8 Map 4: Declared Provincial Heritage Sites situated within an approximate 20km radius from the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road study site.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Map 5: Localities of declared PHS Upper (9/2/050/0041) and Lower (9/2/026/0011) Needs Camp in relation to the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road study site .....................................................................................................................................................................................14 Map 5: Results of the Needs Camp / Potsdam Bridge and Access Road field assessment (tracklog – white) ...........................................................19 List of Plates: Plate 1: View of the Potsdam portion of the access road alignment [1].....................................................................................................................